Admission

1. Applicants to the DMIN program must have an accredited Master of Divinity (MDIV) degree or its educational equivalent. The student must also have three years of ministry experience.

2. If a student does not have an MDIV, the student must demonstrate he or she has the educational equivalent to an MDIV. There are three options to demonstrate MDIV Equivalency:

1. MDIV Equivalency by credit hours:

   • The student must have at least three years of full-time ministry experience.

   • Of the Master's level credits the student has taken, the students must also have:

     • 6 hours of graduate Biblical studies

     • 6 hours of graduate studies in theology

     • 6 hours graduate studies in the life and ministry of the church

     • 3 hours of graduate studies in personal formation for ministry.

   • The applicant must possess an accredited theological degree and have accumulated 72 credits total at the Master's level.

2. MDIV Equivalency by Theological Degree and Portfolio:

   • The student must have at least three years of full-time ministry experience.

   • Finally, the applicant must be interviewed by the director of the DMIN program or a member of the DMIN Committee for the purpose of verifying achievement of the MDIV degree program outcomes.

   • The applicant must also create and submit a portfolio demonstrating possession of the knowledge and skills required of a PTS MDIV graduate as outlined in the MDIV degree program outcome statements.

   • The student's transcript must demonstrate:

     • 6 hours of graduate Biblical studies

     • 6 hours of graduate studies in history & theology

     • 6 hours graduate studies in the life and ministry of the church

     • 3 hours of graduate studies in personal formation for ministry.

   • The second route requires that the applicant have an accredited theological degree.

3. MDIV Equivalency by Non-theological graduate degree, Theological Coursework and Portfolio

   • The student must have at least three years of full-time ministry experience.

   • Finally, the applicant must be interviewed by the director of the DMIN program or a member of the DMIN Committee for the purpose of verifying achievement of the MDIV degree program outcomes. [Note: this third route is currently under review and is subject to change without notification.]

   • The applicant must create a portfolio demonstrating possession of the knowledge and skills required of a PTS MDIV graduate as outlined in the MDIV degree program outcome statements,

   • The applicant must have:

     • completed and possess an accredited degree in the social sciences,

     • completed 9 hours of prescribed graduate Biblical studies,

     • completed 9 hours of prescribed graduate studies in history & theology

     • completed 3 hours of graduate studies in personal formation for ministry,

   • The third route is that students will have earned an accredited non-theological degree that by its nature may be understood to inform ministry. Typically these degrees are in the social sciences: counseling, psychology, education, organizational leadership, etc.

All routes to acceptance require applicants for the DMIN program to have completed a minimum of 3 years of theologically informed active ministry. This requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways (A) The ministry requirement may be demonstrated by documenting 3 years of active ministry beyond the completion of an accredited graduate-level theological degree. (B) It may also be met by completing a portfolio demonstrating three years of theologically informed ministry. The portfolio must include a list of theologically oriented books and articles read during a three-year tenure of ministry and a list of in-ministry training completed during the same period plus a 7 to 10 page essay demonstrating how the readings and classes informed the practice of effective ministry.